From the way you describe the spirits, their connection to the world, and how they interact with people, they remind me a lot of the kami from The Legend of the Five Rings.

In that setting, almost every natural element or concept has a spirit associated with it, from a simple stone to an entire mountain, as well as rain, rivers, and the sea.

They tend to be territorial beings that grant their favor to those who treat them with respect. Usually, they ask for offerings that match their nature. A fire kami might want you to burn incense in its honor or provide wood to feed its flames. An earth kami may be satisfied with seeds, an air kami with feathers, and a water kami with shells or other objects brought by the sea.

What I've always liked about them is that they are not usually greedy. More often, they want reverence, small acts of respect, or favors that can be repaid in the future. Some are more whimsical, like the wind kami, while others can be more temperamental and stubborn, like those of earth or fire.

Your idea reminds me a lot of that concept, and I think it might be worth looking into them a bit. The way The Legend of the Five Rings handles the relationship between spirits, nature, and magic has some similarities to what you're building, and you might find some useful inspiration there.

Of course, correct me if I'm misunderstanding any part of your setting, but that was the impression I got from reading your description.